Package



June 4, 1968 J. R. PINKHAM 3,386,566

PACKAGE Filed Jan. 12, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet l I N VEN TOR. JISSE A. PAW/19H Maw ATW/P/VE) June 4, 1968 J KH 3,386,566

PACKAGE Filed Jan. 1 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. R. PINKHAM June 4, 1968 PACKAGE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 12, 1966 FIG.I2

FIG.I3

June 4, 1968 J. R. PINKHAM 3,386,566

PACKAGE Fild Jan. 12, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 F I G. 20

F l G 2| FIG.22

United States Patent 3,386,566 PACKAGE Jesse R. llinkham, Winston-Salem, NAIL, assignor to R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, li inston fialem, NAG, a corporation of New .l'ersey Filed Jan. 12, 1966, her. No. 520,244 8 Claims. (61. 266-4533) This invention relates to packages, and more particularly to a package for holding a product and wrapped by a transparent wrapping material to expose the contents of the package to view.

The package of the present invention utilizes a strip of bendable material to define the girth of the package. Strips of such material have been employed in the past to provide transparent packages. However, prior art packages have sulfered from the disadvantages of lacking s'turdiness, inability to provide and retain good shape, and poor opening and closing.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved package.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved package wrapped by a transparent wrapper for displaying the packaged goods.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved package for display purposes which is sturdy, which retains its shape, and which is susceptible of easy opening and closing.

These and other objects of the present invention are provided through the use of a strip of bend-able material which defines a girth of the package and which includes flanged sections along the edges thereof that extend partially across the front and rear faces of the package. Pertions of different flanged sections overlap and are secured to each other to provide rigidity to the package. Further, the invention contemplates scoring the strip with diagonal score lines to permit the tin-folding of the strip at the corners of the package and also to bias end panels of the strip, defining an end of the package, toward the opposite end of the package to aid in closing the package. Additionally, these end panels advantageously include a projection on one panel and a cutout portion of the other panel which engage each other to maintain the end of the package closed and to provide a rigid truss structure serving to reinforce the end of the package. Typically, the end panels together are slightly longer than the sideto-side dimension of the package, so as to push outwardly against the wrapper and maintain a taut wrapper and a better appearance. Reinforcing strips may be added along the front and rear faces of the package extending between the flanged sections of the strip to reinforce the package.

The invention will be more completely understood by reference to the following detailed description which is to be read in conjunction with the appended drawings. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a strip of bendable material, cut and scored in accordance with the invention.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective views of the strip of FIG. 1 positioned against a forming mandrel, with partially overlapping flanged sections formed in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective View of the strip and mandrel of FIG. 3 and a sheet of wrapping material.

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are perspective views of the strip, mandrel and sheet of wrapping material of FIG. 4, showing the folding of the wrapper about the mandrel and the strip.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the mandrel, strip and wrapper of FIG. 7 being filled with product.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are perspective views of the mandrel and product-filled package of FIG. 8, showing how the package with its product is separated from the mandrel.

FIG. ll is a perspective view of the product-filled package of FIG. 10 being closed.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the package of FIG. 11 with the top fully closed.

FIG. 13 is a side view of part of the package of FIG. 12, showing the biasing of an end panel at one end of the package toward the other end of the package.

FIG. 14- is a partial sectional view of the package part of FIG. 13, taken along the section line I l-14 of FIG. 13 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIGS. 15 and 16 are perspective views of the package of HG. 12, showing how the outer wrapper is completed.

FIG. 17 is a sectional view of the top of the closed package of FIG. 16 taken along the section line 17-17 of FIG. 16 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 18 is an exploded view of the package of FIG. 16, showing the package opened and the contents being emptied.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of an alternative package in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a strip formed to the shape of a package and a wrapper, in an initial stage in the formation of a package of the type shown in FIG. 19.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the strip and wrapper of FIG. 20, with the wrapper partially completed.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the pack-age of FIG. 21, with the wrapper completed.

Referring to FIG. 1, a strip 49 of bendable material such as card-board includes parallel side edges 42 and 44. Longitudinal score lines 46 and 48 are included in the str p respectively adjacent to the side edges 4-2 and 4.4 and parallel thereto. Transverse score lines 50, 52, 54 and 56 are spaced along the strip and extend generally perpendicular to the side edges 42 and 44. These score lines thus divide the strip into end panels 40a and 4%, side panels 4tic and 40d, and an intermediate panel 402. The ends of the transverse score lines 52 and 54, as at 52a and 52b, 54a and 54]), are cut completely through the strip of bendable material between the longitudinal score lines 46 and 48 and the respective strip edges 42 and 44.

Diagonal score lines 58, 6t), 62 and 64 are included in the strip in the end panels 40a and 40b extending from the points of intersection of the longitudinal score lines 46 and 48 with the transverse score lines Sit and 56. For example, diagonal score line 53 extends from the point of intersection of the transverse score line 54) and the longitudinal score line 46 in the end panel 40a outwardly to the edge 42 of the strip. Advantageously, each of these diagonal score lines forms an angle with the associated one of longitudinal score lines 46 and 48 that is smaller than the angle formed by the diagonal score line and the associated one of transverse score lines 50 and 56. For example, the angle 66 formed by the diagonal score line 58 and the longitudinal score line 46 is slightly less than and the angle 68 formed by the diagonal score line 58 and the transverse score line is slightly greater than 45 End panel 40a of the strip includes an outwardly extending tab 70, and end panel 40b includes a cut-out portion 72 adapted to receive the tab 70 in the completed package as explained below in more detail. The distance between inner edge 70a of the tab 70 and the transverse score line 5t} plus the distance between inner edge 72a of the cut-out portion 72 and the transverse score line 56 is slightly greater than the distance between transverse score lines 52 and 54. Cut-out portion 74 of the strip in the end panel 4% is formed when the tab 70 of an adjacent strip is formed from a single blank of material. The cut- 3 out portion 74 serves no purpose in the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows the strip 40 positioned against a hollow mandrel 76. A hollow mandrel aids in filling the package with a product, as explained below. A solid mandrel could be used; in such a case the open package would be removed from the mandrel prior to being filled with a product. Because of the cutting through of the strip at the ends of the transverse score lines 52 and 54, edge portions 4% and 402" may be bent as shown about the longitudinal score lines 46 and 48 to respectively engage front and rear faces 76a and 76b of the mandrel. Sections 402' and 46a" constitute flanged sections of the panel 4% which extend partially across the front and rear mandrel faces 76a and 76b.

Next, the strip 40 is bent or creased along the transverse score lines 52 and 54 so that the end panel 46a and side panel 40c lie against the side 76c of the mandrel and the end panel 40b and the side panel 40d lie against the mandrel side 76d. Edge portions 40a and 400 of the panels 40a and 40c are creased along the longitudinal score line 46 so as to lie against front face 76a of the mandrel. Such edge portions constitute flanged sections of panels 46a and 400 that extend partially across the front mandrel face 76a. Similarly, opposite edge portions 40a and 400" of the panels 40a and 46c are creased along the longitudinal score line 48 so as to form flanged sections lying against rear face 76b of the mandrel. In similar fashion, the panels 40b and 40d are creased along the longitudinal score lines 46 and 48 to provide flange sections 40b, 40d and 4%", 40d" which respectively lie against front and rear mandrel faces 76a and 7611.

End portions of the flanged sections 460' and 460." overlap and are secured to end portions of flanged section 402. Similarly, end portions of flanged sections 460" and 40d" overlap and are secured to end portions of flanged section due. Such overlapping and overlapped portions of the flanged sections, designated 78a, 78b, 78c and 78d, as secured together provide strength to the package that is to be formed and aid in maintaining the shape of the package. The cuts 52a, 52b and 54a, 54b in the strip 40 of FIG. 1 permit such overlapping to take place. It should be noted that the end portions of the flanged sections 402' and 40a" may overlap rather than underlap the end portions of the flanged sections 40c, 40d and 460" and 40d, if desired.

FIG. 4 shows the mandrel 76 and strip 44 of FIG. 3 in position to be wrapped with a wrapping material 80, such as paper, foil, a laminate or a transparent film, for example. Advantageously, the wrapper is transparent and is formed from polypropylene or polyethylene, for example. The wrapper includes a first tear strip 82a at one end thereof and a second tear strip 82b at the other end thereof. Each of the tear strips is formed of a material which may be the same as the wrapping material, e.g., polypropylene or polyethylene, and is adhered to the side of the wrapper facing the mandrel. Typically, the strips 820: and 82b as well as the wrapper 80 are of thermoplastic material and may be adhered together by the application of heat and pressure.

FIG. 5 shows the wrapper 80 folded against the front and rear mandrel faces 76a and 76b, and with lower side tucks 84a and 84b being taken in the wrapper respectively against mandrel sides 76c and 76d. Next, as shown in FIG. 6, a first side fold 86a is taken in the wrapper against the mandrel side 76d. Similar side folds 86b, 86c and 86d are taken in the remaining portions of the wrapper to complete the wrapper, as shown in FIG. 7. It will be noted from FIG. 7 that end portions of the tear strips 82a and 82b overlap each other so as to effectively form a single tear strip having an accessible end 820 used in opening the wrapper. The overlapping and overlapped portions of the tear strip as well as of the wrapper tucks and folds may be secured to each other by the application of heat and pressure if the wrapper and the tear strip are formed of thermoplastic material as noted above.

FIG. 8 shows the mandrel, strip and wrapper of FIG. 7 in position to receive a product. Typically, the product is applied to the mandrel through a funnel 88. After the mandrel as been filled to the level indicated by line 90, the package formed of strip and wrapper 80 containing the product therein are separated from the mandrel as shown in FIG. 9. For this purpose, a pusher mechanism 92 may be employed which passes downwardly as shown by arrow 94 through the mandrel to engage the product in the package. The pusher mechanism 92 is then pushed still further downwardly so as to pass completely through the mandrel, as shown in FIG. 10, and hence to expel the package containing the product therein from the mandrel. If the product is not sufliciently rigid to withstand such a force sufficient to eject the package, it may be necessary to pull the package and its contents from the mandrel by means of a vacuum or a gripping device (not shown), both of which are well known in the packaging art.

FIG. 11 shows how the ends of the strip 40 are pivoted toward each other to close the open end of the package. in particular, end panel 40a is creased about the transverse score line 50 and end panel 40b is creased about the transverse score line 56 as shown so that the end panels pivot toward each other toward a closed position. At the same time, end portions of the flanged sections 46a, 48a, 46b, and 4% of the end panels respectively crease about the diagonal score lines 58, 60, 62 and 64 to permit the end panels 40a and 40b to pivot. FIG. 14 shows the folding of the end portion of the flanged section 49a about the diagonal score line 58. In the closed position of the top of the package, shown in FIGS. 12 and 17, the tab 70 of the panel 40a extends through the cutout portion 72 of the panel 40b to maintain the top in a closed position.

As described above, the diagonal score lines 58, 6t), 62 and 64 form angles with the longitudinal score lines 46 and 48 (or with the side edges 42 and 44) that are less than the angles formed with the transverse score lines 50 and 56. Since the sum of the two angles at each of the four top corners of the package is 90, one of each pair of angles is slightly less than and the other is slightly greater than 45. This relationship of angles is illustrated in FIG. 13. The angle 66 between the diagonal score line 58 and the longitudinal score line 46 is slightly less than 45, while the angle 68 between the diagonal score line 58 and the transverse score line is slightly greater than 45 Hence when the end portion of the flanged section 46a is creased about the diagonal score line 58 from the position shown in dashed lines to the position shown in full lines in FIG. 13, the top panel 40a does not extend at right angles from the side panel 400 but ext-ends slightly downwardly as shown. Similarly, the top panel 40b extends slightly downwardly (not shown) and in this fashion the two top panels tend to remain in the down or closed position. It should be noted that FIG. 13 has been somewhat exaggerated to illustrate this effect. The end panels 40a and 49b in the closed position provide a sturdy truss structure which aids in providing overall rigidity to the package.

The wrapper of the closed package of FIG. 12 is completed as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16. In FIG. 15 a first end tuck 90 is taken against the top panel 40b. A similar end tuck is taken against the top panel 40a, and following this end folds 92 and 94 are taken in the wrapper as shown in FIG. 16 to complete the package. The truss structure formed from the end panels 40a and 40b is sufficiently rigid to permit the end tucks and folds to be completed without distortion of the package. The package in its completed form is thus rigid and exposes the contents of the package to view. In this connection, because the distance between the inner edge a of the tab '70 and the transverse score line 50 plus the distance between the inner edge 72a of the cut-out portion 72 and the transverse score line 56 is slightly greater than the length of the 5. panel 40a at the opposite end of the package, the wrapper at the upper end of the package is maintained taut. That is, the end panels 40a and 40b are caused to exert forces against each other directed outwardly against the sides of the package, and hence the wrapper is held taut to provide a wrapper pleasing in appearance.

FIG. 18 shows the package of FIG. 16 opened to discharge the contents. The free end 82c of the tear strip is pulled to tear the wrapper in conventional fashion, and the top of the package is opened as shown in FIG. 18 so that the contents may be poured from the package. If it is desired to use the package a number of times, i.e., the package is not emptied the first time it is opened, the package may include strips 100a and 19% (FIG. 19) extending across the front and rear faces of the package at the top portion thereof. The strip 100a may be secured to the flanged sections 400 and 40d, while the strip 100k may be secured to the flanged sections 40c" and 40d". The strips 100a and provide rigidity to the package and prevent the sides 40c and 40d from collapsing toward each other. If desired, the reinforcing strips 100a and 1001) may be formed during the wrapping of the package as shown in FIG. 20. In this case, wrapper 80' includes a continuous strip 82 which serves as a tear strip for the wrapper and another continuous strip 100 overlying the tear strip 82'. The strip 100 may be made of rigid material so as to provide reinforcement for the package as described above in connection with FIG. 19. In this case, the reinforcing strip extends about all four sides of the package.

FIG. 20 also illustrates how the package may be completed with a side wrapping of the strip by the wrapper, as distinguished from an end wrapping of the strip by the wrapper as shown in FIGS. 4-16. In particular, in FIG. 20 the strip 40 is closed to provide a rectangular structure serving as a guide about which the wrapping Inaten'al 80' is wrapped. The wrapping material is advantageously first positioned against the strip side 46d and then is folded against the flanged strip sections 40b", 40c", 40d" and 40a to complete the rear face of the package. Next, the product is supplied to the partially completed package as shown by arrow 102. Following this, the wrapper is wrapped about the side 400 of the strip and then is folded as shown in FIG. 21 against the flanged strip sections 40b, 40c, 40d and 40a to complete the front face of the package. Following this, the package is completed as shown in FIG. 22. It should be noted that such a side wrapping of the strip could be employed in conjunction with a mandrel, in connection with FIGS. 4l6, prior to the filling of the mandrel.

A package in accordance with the invention includes a strip of bendable material that defines a girth thereof. The strip is cut and scored so as to be easily folded to the girth shape desired and to provide overlapping flanged sections for rigidity. The strip includes an end truss structure which provides rigidity but which is easily opened and closed. The embodiments of the invention disclosed above are representative, and the invention should be taken to be defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A blank for a strip defining a girth of a package comprising:

(a) a longitudinally extending strip of bendable material having first and second ends;

(b) at least four transverse score lines intermediate said strip ends dividing said strip into a plurality of panels;

(c) a first end panel of said strip including an outwardly extending tab and the other end panel of said strip including a cut-out portion adapted to receive said tab when said strip is bent into the shape of the girth of the package;

(d) the distance between said tab and the transverse score line adjacent thereto plus the distance between said cut-out portion and the transverse score line adjacent thereto being greater than the distance be tween two other adjacent transverse score lines that define a panel positioned opposite the end panels of said strip when said strip is bent into the shape of the girth of a package.

2. A blank for a strip defining a girth of a package comprising:

(a) a strip of bendable material having first and second parallel side edges and first and second ends;

(b) first and second longitudinal score lines parallel to said side edges;

(c) at least four transverse score lines perpendicular to said side edges dividing said strip into a plurality of panels;

((1) diagonal score lines in the end panels of said strip extending outwardly to said side edges of said strip from the intersections of said first and second longitudinal score lines with those two of said transverse score lines at the ends of said strip, said diagonal score lines forming angles with said first and second longitudinal score lines that are less than the angles formed by said diagonal score lines and said two transverse score lines.

3. A blank for a strip defining a girth of a package as defined in claim 2, wherein:

(e) a first end panel of said strip includes an outwardly extending tab and the other end panel of said strip includes a cutout portion adapted to receive said tab when said strip is bent into the shape of the girth of a package;

(f) the distance between said tab and the transverse score line adjacent thereto plus the distance between said cut-out portion and the transverse score line adjacent thereto being greater than the distance between two other adjacent transverse score lines that define a panel positioned opposite the end panels of said strip when said strip is bent into the shape of the girth of a package.

4. A blank for a strip defining a girth of a package as defined in claim 3, wherein said first and second longitudinal score lines are respectively adjacent to said first and second side edges and extend from said first end of said strip to said second end of said strip; said transverse score lines comprise first, second, third and fourth transveres score lines each extending from said first side edge to said second side edge thereby dividing said strip into two end panels and three intermediate panels; said tab being adjacent to said first transverse score line and said cut-out portion being adjacent to said fourth transverse score line; the distance between said tab and the first transverse score line plus the distance between said cutout portion and the fourth transverse score line being greater than the distance between the second and third transverse score lines; the ends of said second and third transverse score lines being cut through said strip between the side edges of said strip and the first and second longitudinal score lines.

5. A package comprising:

(a) a strip of bendable material defining a girth of the package and scored with transverse score lines to include an intermediate panel defining a first end of the package, side panels defining sides of the package, and first and second end panels defining a second end of the package opposite from the first end;

(b) said first end panel of said strip including an outwardly extending tab;

(c) said second end panel of said strip including a cut-out portion which receives said tab to close the second end of said package;

(d) the distance between said tab and the adjacent one of said transverse score lines plus the distance between said cut-out portion and the transverse score line adjacent thereto being greater than the width of the package measured at said first end thereof, said width being defined by the distance between adjacent transverse score lines in the mid portion of said strip bounding said intermediate panel.

6. A package comprising:

(a) a strip of bendable material defining a girth of the package and scored with transverse score lines to include an intermediate panel defining a first end of the package, side panels defining sides of the package, and first and second end panels defining a second end of the package opposite from the first end;

(b) said side panels and said end panels of said strip including flanged sections thereof extending partially across front and rear faces of the package, the flanged sections of said end panels comprising extensions of the flanged sections of said side panels;

(c) portions of said flanged sections at the junctions of said end panels and side panels being folded inwardly about diagonal score lines in the flanged sections of said end panels;

(d) said diagonal score lines forming angles with the edges of the strip that are less than the angles between the diagonal score lines and lines perpendicular to the strip edges so as to cause the end panels to be biased toward the first end of the package when in the closed position.

7. A package as defined in claim 6, wherein:

(e) said first end panel of said strip includes an outwardly extending tab;

(f) said second end panel of said strip includes a cutout portion which receives said tab to close the second end of said package;

(g) the distance between said tab and the adjacent one of said transverse score lines plus the distance between said cut-out portion and the transverse score line adjacent thereto being greater than the width of the package measured at said first end thereof, said width being defined by the distance between adjacent transverse score lines in the mid portion of said strip bounding said intermediate panel.

8. A package as defined in claim 7, wherein:

(h) said intermediate panel includes flanged sections thereof which extend partially across front and rear faces of the package, portions of the flanged sections of said intermediate and side panels overlapping and secured to each other in the regions of the overpp (i) transparent sheet material secured to said strip and enclosing the ends, sides, and front and rear faces of the package; and

(j) a strip of reinforcing material across each of the front and rear faces of the package connecting together the flanged sections of the side panels of the strip to reinforce the package.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,552,740 5/1951 Schumann 206-4533 2,630,915 3/1953 Grant 206-4533 2,717,073 9/1955 Young 206-4533 2,770,409 11/1956 Moore 206-4533 2,774,504 12/1956 Moore 229-23 2,926,781 3/1960 Dickhens et al. 206-4534 X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,328,973 4/1963 France.

372,973 10/ 1963 Switzerland.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

LOUIS G. MANCENE, Examiner. 

5. A PACKAGE COMPRISING: (A) A STRIP OF BENDABLE MATERIAL DEFINING A GIRTH OF THE PACKAGE AND SCORED WITH TRANSVERSE SCORE LINES TO INCLUDE AN INTERMEDIATE PANEL DEFINING A FIRST END OF THE PACKAGE, SIDE PANELS DEFINING SIDES OF THE PACKAGE, AND FIRST AND SECOND END PANELS DEFINING A SECOND END OF THE PACKAGE OPPOSITE FROM THE FIRST END; (B) SAID FIRST END PANEL OF SAID STRIP INCLUDING AN OUTWARDLY EXTENDING TAB; (C) SAID SECOND END PANEL OF SAID STRIP INCLUDING A CUT-OUT PORTION WHICH RECEIVES SAID TAB TO CLOSE THE SECOND END OF SAID PACKAGE; 